Backstay for picker sticks



Feb. 3, 1925. 1,524,738

A. H. LANGLOIS ET AL BACKSTA'Y won PICKER STICKS Original Filed Sept. 26, 1923 'ET.'g. E.

Alfred. H. Langtnis a4- 4255a Tnwargl M HI /d Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

U NIT ED r ALFRED H. LANGLOIS AND JESSE TOWERS, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

BACKSTAY FOR PICKER STICKS.

Application filed September 26, 1923, Serial No. 664,984. Renewed December 8, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known, that we, ALFRED H. LANG- LOIS and Jesse Townes, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicopee, in the county of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Backstays for Picker Sticks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to looms, and more particularly to an attachment for use on picker sticks. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a backstay for attachment to. picker sticks to prevent the warping and splitting thereof and to facilitate attachment of the return strap to the bottom of the picker stick after it has delivered a stroke to the shuttle.

The invention also aims to provide a device for attachment to picker sticks which will prevent them from being forced out of line and causing numerous disadvantages among which may be mentioned that the shuttle is unduly worn, that the shuttle is thrown out of the loom and at times strikes the weavers, causes loss of production, breaking of the warp threads and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment to a picker stick of a loom which admits of the easy attachment of the return strap, saves a considerable amount of leather from which the straps are made as a shorter strap is used, and provides means for preventing the strap from slipping off after either side of the picker stick which now frequently occurs and causes considerable delay and breakage of the straps.

The above and various other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same be ing illustrated in the accompanying drawings, w herein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a picker stick mounted on the rear end of the loom and having the backstay of this invention ap plied thereto,'parts being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the back stay, enlarged, removed from the picker stick.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing 10 designates a picker stick which is inserted through the shoe 11 in the usual manner and provided which is arranged between the shoe 11 and picker stick 10 in the usual manner and which curves forwardly at its lower end to provide a wearing and supporting surface for engagement with the foot 13, in the us ual manner. The lower end of the picker stick 10 projects downwardly through the slot in the foot 13 and is rounded at its rear corner for receiving a strap according to the ordinary present day system. In the present instance the strap 14 is relatively short as compared with the usual form of straps and extends from the return spring 15 to the backstay of this invention.

The tongue 12 and shoe 11 are secured to the picker stick 10 by a bolt 16 which has a nut 17 upon its rear end which usually bites into the rear edge of the picker stick 10 and which weakens the stick at that point, particularly since the bolt hole is formed thereat. This nut 17 frequently warps and distorts the picker stick so that the shoe 11 is thrown out of its concentric position and thus causes the picker 18 to move out of line with the raised plate indicated diagrammatically at 19 in Fig. 1. This nut 17 and bolt 16 have usually been used for securing the upper end of the strap 14 against the rear edge of the picker stick. This requires an unnecessary length of strap 14 and the strap frequently slides off the lower end of the picker stick at either side.

The backstay comprises a forging or cast ing in the form of a flat bar 20 having a tapering lower end 21 terminating at its rear side in a rearwardly projecting lug or stud 22. The strap 14 has an opening 23 adapted to receive the lower end of the backstay and also the stud 22, which latter engages beneath the free end of the strap 14 to hold it from slipping downwardly from the backstay. The upper end of: the backstay 20 is substantially of the width of the picker stick 10 and is provided at opposite edges with flanges 24 adapted to overlap the opposite sides of the picker stick 10 and prevent the backstay 20 from turning or twisting upon the picker stick. The backstay has near its upper end an opening 25 through which the bolt 16 is adapted to extend and the nut 17 is adapted to bind .upon its forward edge with a tongue 12 against the rear face of the back-stay to secure it fiat against the picker stick. The back-stayQO is InfldG ofsuflicient thickness and strength, and is provided with a fiat inner surface which conforms to the rear edge oi thepicker stick 10 so as to hold the latter stiff and prevent its warping and splitting, and the lower end 21 is of sufiicient length to projectbelow' the picker stick to receive the strap lei. and hold it free of the picker stick.

It is thus seen that the backstay performs the dual function of reinforcing the picker stick and providing a connection between the picker stick and the return strap which prevents the latter from slipping oil of the end of the picker stick.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details oi construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, the changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A backstay for picker sticks comprising an elongated bar adapted to engage along the rear edge faceiof the lower end portion of a picker stick and having a hole therethrough for receiving the usual supporting bolt for the picker stick, the upper portion of the bar being'provided with torewardly extending flanges to overlap the sides of the picker stick and retain the bar from pivoton the bolt and prevent the stick from working and splitting said .bar havinga tapered lower end portion and being. of a length to projec-tdownwardly from the lower end of the bar for passing through an opening in the free'end portion ofa picker stick return strap and holding the strap upon the tapered lower end portion of the bar.

ALFRED 1H. LANGLQIS. JESSE TOlVERSV 

